A legal instrument of the European Union (EU) as defined in Article 288 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). A directive is a measure of general application that is binding as to the result to be achieved, but that leaves member states discretion as to how to achieve the result. Directives usually contain a deadline by which EU member states must implement it into national law (usually two years).

In certain circumstances, directives are capable of having direct effect, meaning that they can be directly relied on by individuals in national courts, even if they have not yet been implemented into national law. However, unlike EU treaty provisions, regulations and decisions, directives can usually only be relied on against state entities (vertical direct effect), but not private individuals (horizontal direct effect).

For more information, see Practice note, EU law essentials.